tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13610744456027270492024-03-14T05:28:13.133-05:00The Silver Lining--A Mormon Woman's JourneyThe Silver Lining is an extension of myself and my belief in Jesus Christ. I hope that you find respite, hope and light through my journey here. To any who read this who are struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel I say: Hold on. Keep trying. God does love you! Things will improve.Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-49424605364320723362015-04-15T13:05:00.001-05:002015-04-15T13:05:27.084-05:00Life is Always Interesting on a Hobby Farm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been so busy with our farm that I haven't posted an article here in months. Today I placed a quote by Gordon B. Hinkley on my FB page. It really touched me to find that quote today. I really love that great man. He taught me to be kind, even in the face of adversity. I love him for being such a good example of bearing your burdens cheerfully. I loved the time when he said, "Don't be a pickle sucker!" ha ha! In other words don't be a sour puss! Be cheerful, be kind and always do good!<br />
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There are so many fine examples of people such as Gordon B. Hinkley in our lives if we just take the time to look for them. When we rub shoulders with them we are cheered on! Our burdens are lightened a little and sunshine fills our hearts.<br />
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Today I sat atop a flat rock among many boulders. The sun kissed my face as I closed my eyes and leaned back to relax. I could hear a robin letting all the other males know that this was HIS territory! An occasional car passed by in the distance. My roosters crowed back and forth in competition... I could hear my goat in the barn munching contentedly on her cud. I was about to open my eyes and get back to work, when Ole and Lena called to me and started tickling my face with their soft noses. They nibbled on my hair.<br />
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My life is so different now....So peaceful at times that I revel in the silence. Those moments pass and sometimes craziness of farm life interrupts it! It's all good though. Life is just plain good!<br />
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This morning Karissa, my daughter in law discovered that Lena (a four week old twin Alpine goat kid) could get out of the pen in the barn. So the two of us positioned some fencing, that my friend Shannon had given us to block the way to keep her safe. Baling twine was used to hold it all in place. Lena showed us exactly how she'd escaped! She is a jumper and very athletic! She tried to repeat how she'd jumped over the fence by standing on the milking stand. I hope that when she's bigger, she slows down a bit, and her weight holds her closer to terra--ferma! Other wise we are in BIG trouble!<br />
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I love my life. It's always changing. Our son Ryan and his bride Karissa moved in with us a couple of weeks ago. We are so happy to have them with us. They've been such a big help on the farm. I hope they are enjoying their stay with us. Life is always interesting on a hobby farm.</div>
Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-56081163458701951402013-07-31T07:33:00.001-05:002013-07-31T07:33:50.537-05:00Those Pearly Gates<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; line-height: 18px;">If our wisdom and knowledge are all we take to the grave when we die, do you think it counts in heaven how we've gained all we've learned in this life? After all, you can gain knowledge so many different ways. Right? </span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; line-height: 18px;">Do you think that you have to show your credentials and certificates of degrees you've earned, in order to enter into the kingdom of Heaven? I think not.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; line-height: 18px;">I was speaking to my mom about her mothers death certificate. She was surprised to find a place on the certificate where you list your academic degrees. My sweet grandma had several certificates but they could not be listed because they were not from an accredited university T</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; line-height: 18px;">hose things she'd worked so hard for in life were not able to be listed on this final documentation of her life.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; line-height: 18px;">It made me think . When we die, we don't take with us the things of this world. We go out as we came in, without any of the trappings of society, not even the clothes on our backs. What we retain from this earthly experience is up to us. Right?</span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; line-height: 18px;">We can choose to leave this world in a wake of sadness, greed, selfishness and pain of our own choosing. Or instead choose to comfort those who need comforting. Give compassion and aid wherever it's needed. We can be good parents, daughters and sons. We can develop the talents and gifts God has blessed us with and help others do the same. The positive list goes on and on. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; line-height: 18px;">I do believe that the certificate that lists our doings here on earth does not carry over into heaven with us. My grandma took with her a fine sense of humor, a compassion and whit and her bright intelligence that made her eyes sparkle. She made us smile, laugh and feel loved sometimes when no one else even noticed. She is missed. I missed not getting a birthday card for the past few years when she suffered from dementia. I have loved being loved by her my whole life without even realizing it.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; line-height: 18px;"> Now that I'm a grandma I understand why. It takes effort to be in a grandchild`s life that lives so far away. I feel the pain of separation that she must have felt so many times because I too live miles and miles away from beloved grandsons. I now feel her pain and her joy as well.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; line-height: 18px;">We all have someone in our life that has left their earthly body behind. This morning I woke with thought that I had to write down about someone I greatly admired....</span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; line-height: 18px;">I think that when a person like Mother Theresa passed, she showed them her hands at the pearly gates and they were opened wide....Her knowledge of easing the cause of humanity, tireless and never ending service and the compassion she knew was so necessary-- was enough and to spare. She worked hard , she eased others burdens and gave hope to those who were hopeless. What a blessing she was to so many and her legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of others. A wonderful example of our Saviors love. Something to reach higher and aspire to as well.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; line-height: 18px;"> We can all be like her and others we admire here on earth, but in our own special way. Even if it's not on such a large scale as those who have gone on before us it matters. We all have unique gifts well suited to our own journey here on earth. The question is, do we choose to bless others with those gifts? I feel that these might be a few of the things we remember when the veil is lifted from our eyes. When we meet our maker at the end of this amazing journey we are all enjoying, I hope it's filled with joy at knowing we did our best.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; line-height: 18px;"> Just a few thoughts I had in the middle of the night here on a hobby farm in Annandale....</span>Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-72271237809052399132013-07-08T16:08:00.000-05:002013-07-08T16:08:05.753-05:00Busy Summer in Annandale <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a very busy summer here at the farm in Annadale. A happy summer for sure!<br />
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We have some new additions. Six new kittens. Four of which we had to rescue and take away from a first time mama cat. They were all sick and all crying when we found them. So a little TLC and feedings around the clock for a few weeks brought them all back to health.<br />
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I've found myself getting very attached to the kittens. It filled a void in my life upon reflection. I've missed my kids so much and my grandsons as well. There has been no one to nurture for the most part. A gift Father gave me and I now shower my husband with more. Poor guy! ha ha!<br />
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We also adopted a goat named Ruby. She's a very needy goat. She cries when we are not around and she won't eat unless she can see us. So now she has a herd of cattle to talk to through the fence. It's been good for her to have someone nearby. She's finally settling down now--much to our relief! We are re-thinking my need to have a goat. They are a tremendous amount of work. Time will tell if we sell Ruby in the near future.<br />
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Someone dumped their pretty orange tabby cat at our house. She was older and sweet and was rejected by the barn cats. So she camped out by our chicken pen waiting for someone to pet her and help her get the burrs out of her long fur. Well, I had to help her. She is such a sweetie. Of course then she got pregnant right off the bat. We had a tom cat from across the street take up residence in our barn. Einstein was his name . Odd isnt' it? He was that smart. Anyway he fathered all of our kittens and though he's gone now, his genetics live on. He was a Maine Coon breed of cat. A big long haired beauty of a cat. His kittens are adorable!<br />
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We've been raising broiler hens for some farm income. It's been a battle from day one. The elements are tough on chickens and we had to go to such lengths to keep them all alive. Out of the first clutch we had 43 of the 50 survive. The second batch we have only lost two. The difference was the weather. We learned the hard way to start raising them in late June and no sooner. The power bills with the heat lamps was just too much. Then you have the USDA approved butcher to pay....Feed costs for organic feed is out of this world. So all we did was break even until Elisabeth (our partner with the chickens) started grinding our own feed! VIOLA! We may even make some money off of this batch! There is a learning curve when it comes to farming.<br />
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The garden is doing fantastic! We get a gallon of strawberries every other day now. I love the fresh organic veggies!<br />
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My health has returned. I had a health scare recently with my heart. I'd given a talk in church on helping others, when during the talk suddenly my vision became impared. I had to put my talk aside and pull my thoughts out of my head under pressure. When I sat down I realized it was becoming increasingly harder to breath.<br />
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After the closing prayer I mouthed to Terry, my husband to come and help me! I asked the boy beside me to get the Bishop to call 911. It all became a blur after I heard Brother Esquimia (sorry, can't spell his name yet) ask the congregation to "evacuate the chapel!" due to his flustered state and English being a second language. He's so sweet!<br />
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The paramedics arrived....Talk about the abilty to clear a room! ha ha! No seriously I was glad they did. I didn't want to worry so many people, but I did. Before they arrived though, three sweet sisters who were nurses came to my aid. I'll never forget their kindness. I'll also never forget the very tall, well muscled cop that showed up with the paramedics. He so looked like superman! No joke! He' was well over 6 feet tall and dark and Clark Kentish! What a strange thing to remember eh?<br />
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Well, my potassium had bottomed out again. It happens to me on occasion. My apnea had come back and my blood sugar was off. I'm doing great now and breathing much better. All is well and thank goodness to nitro! I sure had a lot of that in the ambulance and a two day stay in the hospital. Yes, the bills are now rolling in!<br />
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We are selling free range farm fresh chicken and giving away adorable kittens. Next we'll be selling veggies! I love this farm life. There is nothing better, exept see my grandsons and kids. </div>
Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-84273469066198811712012-11-13T10:22:00.001-06:002012-11-13T10:28:15.788-06:00An Attitude of Gratitude and Thanksgiving!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_23_1352688200255_108">The first time I ever payed attention to the word "Gratitude" it came from the lips of a sweet 4 year old little girl during a sacrament talk in church. Her name was Rebecca--Becca was her nickname. Her mama stood at her side as she gave a very thought provoking talk beyond her years. I was a newer convert to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The words she said that day, and the way she pronounced gra-TI-tude, inspired me to have gratitude in my heart for many years to come.</span></div>
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I often revisit that moment in my minds eye. It was a turning point for me as a young mother. Isn't it amazing how that happens to each of us as gospel truth resonate in our own individual souls at differing times in our lives?</div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_23_1352688200255_73">I'm grateful today, knowing that I'm healthy again. Moving to the farm has strengthened me so much--in body and in spirit! I have hard earned muscles now that I've not felt in years. I have a new-found inner peace that is so comforting. I've turned my resolve as endured chronic pain-- into action many times over. I'm able to help my neighbor do hard things that I thought never possible in my lifetime. I still have many weaknesses that I'm striving to overcome as a child of God is meant to do. I'm by no means perfect, but I'm reaching further and trying harder to attain personal and spiritual goals.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_23_1352688200255_86">Two years ago I was sick and over a hundred pounds overweight. My liver was sick, my heart enlarged and failing with the edema I had. I could feel myself slowly dyeing once again. An all too familiar feeling. Then a dear friend told me about a weight loss plan that worked and the action of just doing it and praying hard, saved my life. Now I have a job from home, helping others do exactly what I did for myself! I talk to people who feel what I have felt during my struggle with obesity. My life now is now a huge contrast to that struggle I once had in simply trying to exist and to care for my family. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_23_1352688200255_89"> My life is forever changed! As I walk a couple miles a day around our beautiful alfalfa field with my dog friend Koda, I revel in the freedom from bondage I do feel. I even run from time to time as I wish. I enjoy hearing an occasional crow of a pheasant, my rooster crowing behind me as I walk. My mind is clear as I hear a cow bellowing for her calf next door. The wind in the blue spruce and the leaves tumbling beneath them catches my eye. All simple things I missed, or forgotten during my struggle to hang on. It's almost as if I'd been given a new pair of glasses! Instead of seeing a fuzzy green carpet, I can see each individual blade of grass! There is so much we miss when we are in pain or struggling.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_23_1352688200255_118">One thing has never changed through my fight to regain what I'd lost, I still live each and every day as if it were my last. I never take being able to stay here on earth for granted. I always keep in mind, that I can do more than I think I can as well. I forgive those who say hurtful things or have no idea what is really in my heart. I try very hard to be kind every day. I ask Father for people to serve and to be able to alleviate suffering whenever I can. These are only a few things that are important to me and deeply healing. </span></div>
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I hope you pray hard for the righteous desires of your heart daily. Know that every prayer IS heard by our loving Father in Heaven! If you don't believe this to be true, pray for the knowledge that it IS true! It will get you through some really hard things in life. </div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_23_1352688200255_78">This morning, as I realized, that if I was needed, I too could dawn a yellow jersey on that says Mormon Helping Hands-- is the realization that I have truly arrived and am really healthy! I can help now where there is a need. I can't tell you how my heart has swelled today as I watched the video I posted from New York. It inspires us to do more for our neighbors, our friends and our families and our nations. I'm pleased that our four sons decided to go out into the world as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was a blessing to be a mom of four missionary sons. They are my example and I love them dearly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Here's the link I mentioned! Enjoy!<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_198117966"> </a></span><span style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/53357089">http://vimeo.com/53357089</a></span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_23_1352688200255_83">I challenge you to pray for service today in your part of the world. Then act on those promptings. Lets see what unfolds. It matters not if you are wheel chair bound, bed bound or healthy! You can do hard things and you can help others with your words, your actions and your deeds! The more you help others, the less your burdens will feel. I promise that as time goes by and you help others more and more, your burdens will be lightened, your spirit will soar and your heart will be filled to overflowing.</span></div>
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I'm grateful for my friend here, who didn't give up on me. It took six months for her to get through to me about the Docs Stimulus Drops plan that saved my life. How she must have prayed for me and how grateful I am today... I'm alive today, and a testament of what service can do for one person. </div>
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May we all be a blessing in someones life today. Now, go pray for service opportunities! I know you're gonna love your life even more for your sacrifice. (((HUGS)))</div>
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Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-32237779660016587862012-09-25T12:27:00.000-05:002012-09-25T12:29:14.090-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The harvest is just about over. All I have left are the cabbages, potato's and my wilting pepper plants. We had help this year with our harvest towards the end. The entire Johnson clan showed up and saved the day! How wonderful it is to have so many willing friends to help with the work before our first big frost!<br />
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After the harvest we ate yummy pizza together from Domino's in Rochford MN. The Tanya special was the highlight of the night! YUM! We shared our meal with Elisabeth from the neighboring farm. After dinner we all piled into the cars and drove to her house.<br />
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We were able to see a working farm, unlike our hobby farm. She has dairy cows, chickens, piglets and beef cattle. I'm often found there feeding the calves. I love it!<br />
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That day was no different. I got to feed a calf. So did several of the Johnson's. It was great fun! My favorite is Sarah the Jersey cow. She loves being scritched under her chin like a cat. Her tongue is surprisingly like a big giant house cat as well, all rough and scratchy. Dairy cows at Elisabeth's are just like big puppies. I love it! But not enough to want to own one myself. ha ha! I know my limits!<br />
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Yesterday we picked up our first rabbit! We want to raise them for pets and for meat. It's a wonderful renewable resource. Pound for pound you get more for your money with rabbits than with cows. They have eight to 12 babies each litter. I'm going to study up on the subject for next spring! Our one bunny was picked up off an add on freecycle.com. The cage, bunny and food were all free! Neat!<br />
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We found out this week that our daughter in law Jelly is having a baby boy! We are all so excited about the upcoming birth this winter.<br />
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In November our kids will all be home for Thanksgiving! I can't even put into words how excited we all are to be together again! Hunter will be back from his mission in October. I can hardly stand the wait. So finally the Otis family will be reunited. We are all so grateful for the mission experiences we've all had with having four sons who've served missions. We look forward to our grandsons and granddaughters serving the Lord full time if they so wish. Terry and I would also like to serve a mission in the years to come. It has been a dream of ours for a long time.<br />
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I hope my readers are all having a fantastic day! Be kind to yourself and count your blessings today! </div>
Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-9280643921610789062012-06-14T12:40:00.003-05:002012-06-14T12:40:31.971-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last January a mighty change came to the lives of my husband Terry and myself. We moved to the farm! We had no idea how much of a change it would be. We had worked towards this goal for quite some time. We had helped at a friends farm growing an amazing garden with them every year. We felt like we were farmers in training so to speak. It was great! But the size and scope of our narrow vision into farming took on a whole new light after actually moving here.<br />
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The first thing we noticed when spring came, was how tired and sore we both were. This is a 35 acre farm. About four acres of it is grassy park like grounds that need constant mowing and attention. There are many perennial flower beds that needed pruning and weeding as well. We added a very large garden next to the alfalfa field. Now that was a huge undertaking because the previous owner who had passed on, hadn't had a garden there for a couple of years. The weeds were tremendous and we had to till it up three times before we could plant. It was also on a hill and had to be terraced so it wouldn't wash away.<br />
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Terry and I have never been so tired, sore or happy in all our life. It doesn't seem possible to be all three of those things at once--but we are. The joy of working hard has a payoff--contentment!<br />
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President Thomas S. Monson-- the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said recently, "Teach your children to use their hands!" I've always been a firm believer in doing just that for our four sons. Not one of them is a stranger to hard work. All have a wonderful work ethic, but they also know how to play. I think balance is so important in ones life. When we work hard and play hard together, it promotes a kind of unity like no other. Family work is so important.<br />
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We have now added a small flock of hens to our farm. They make me giggle with their silly antics. The chicks are constantly sparring for fun. The hens like to find soft dirt and take a dust bath in it. They flick and sift the dirt under their feathers in the most ridiculous positions, to get rid of pests and itch. Then suddenly one will find a bug and it's like they are running around with dust flying everywhere. "It's mine! It's mine!" are the words I think of as the other birds chase them around vying for ownership of the juicy winged morsel. It's very entertaining! Who needs a TV right? Of course the best part is the fresh eggs we gather daily.<br />
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This is a very fulfilling life we are leading. It's one of self sufficiency in the making. I smile all the way home from town with each farm I pass to get to ours on the hill. Now, that's a little slice of heaven on earth,</div>Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-50952119847440671442012-03-20T22:30:00.001-05:002012-03-20T22:41:04.793-05:00Life Is Blossoming All Around Me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I must say that this past year has truly been the best year of my life. Have you said those words before? I don't think I have before now. Being healthy is so underrated. Breathing and moving and living life so fully is something I pray I never take for granted again.<br />
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I love my job. Helping others lose the weight and get healthy is the most amazing thing. We can all do hard things when you have the knowledge and the tools to overcome adversity. I love empowering people to get healthy. I love alleviating the suffering of others. It's like, giving back to Heavenly Father for all the miracles he allowed to happen in my own life. The blessings flowed when I finally decided to do what he wanted me to do. How grateful I am to be alive and healthy again! Life is blossoming all around me and I'm enjoying every second of every day.<br />
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We moved to a farm recently. The old farmhouse was refurbished and updated. It's a pleasure to live here. So much sunshine coming through the windows. Every window has a wonderful vista to savor.<br />
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Our pup Koda loves it here! Terry and I have fun walking the back 30 acres together as Koda runs from spot to spot rolling in the snow, walking through streams and picking up a plethora of burrs in his long golden fur. Yeah, it's a full time job pulling em out, but worth it. Soon I'll be planting our garden. All my lillies have been transplanted....Two more weeks and I turn the soil over in the veggie garden! YES! Can't wait!<br />
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In the past two years we've had three weddings and now we've been blessed with two beautiful grandsons. When I think about how hard I had to work to stay alive and get healthy-- it was all worth it. Worth it when I held those baby boys in my arms. How many times I'd been told I wouldn't make it to this point in time. I'm glad I never gave up on my dreams of being healthy again.<br />
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Being a grandma is the biggest blessing in my life. Being a mom of a missionary is another. I'm glad I lived to see all the things in my life loved so much and worked so hard for, come to fruition. Family is a blessing. How I love my Heavenly Father.<br />
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Our son Elder Otis who is serving in California is doing so well. He comes home in less than 7 months and I can't tell you how it fills my heart to have sons who were willing to put their own lives on hold. They have served the Lord full time for two full years. Elder J. H. Otis is one of those souls. We are so pleased with his commitment and dedication to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I can't wait to talk to him in May! Mothers day will be such an amazing day!<br />
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<br /></div>Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-26989907031028462962012-01-11T18:39:00.000-06:002012-01-11T18:39:30.881-06:00I DO Believe in Miracles!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I do believe in miracles. Today I spoke to my doctors nurse on the phone about my echo cardiogram results. She told me how proud she was of me. She said that my echo shows that my heart is now NORMAL! It was enlarged with edema and showed that I had LVH from high blood pressure a year ago. Now it's resolved with weight loss and my HCG updated diet plan!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> Losing the weight was the only thing that would save my life. How I fought! How I prayed and asked for angels to attend me. We all can when it's necessary. Remember this! I feel it was key in my own recovery. How loved we are. Father wants us all to succeed! We can do anything with His help.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> How grateful I am for all the help and heavenly intervention I've had along the way. My heart is so full of joy today. I am so happy! This grandma is going to live for many, many years to come. I will live to see all my grands and great grands born.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Thank you all for your love and support during this very difficult journey I've been on. How I love you! Now, back to helping other people do what I've done. LIfe is such a gift! Live it to it's fullest and love the ones you hold dear with all you have. Not one of us knows when we'll be called home. Lets do our best to ensure that we don't speed up the process. Lets all make better choices. Start today. Start small, but do it. I know you can do it. We can all do more than we think we can. That is key in overcoming so many trials. Have faith in your Father above.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Now, back to packing! I can do this! We are moving to a farm in less than 20 days! I'll write more about the past few months in the days to come. It's time I shared more with you! Life is wonderful! I plan on living it to it's fullest yet!</span><br />
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Last week we arrived home from a whirlwind trip to Utah. It was a turning point in my life. You see when we left Minnesota, we had placed many things for sale on Craigslist.com . Things like the Suburban parts from our wrecked truck and some new tires. The thing I wanted gone the most of course was still staring at me.....my old blue scooter. I had that in place of a wheelchair several years ago when I suffered through a time with left side paralysis. That scooter represented bondage and freedom combined, during a period I often remember as a enormous stepping stone in my life.<br />
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I remember that time vividly. It's the only reason I pushed myself to become a writer. I remember laying there, feeling sorry for myself day after day and finally, I asked God what I was going to do with my life if the numbness didn't get better.<br />
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The answer came swift and clear, "Get out your scriptures and start reading, the answers will come." What do you say to an answer like that. Well, I did what I was told to do. As I turned the pages with my right good hand, I found scripture after scripture that had to do with Gifts and Talents! Surprisingly many of them told me what would happen to me if I didn't use my gifts and talents God had given me.....it gave me food for thought for sure. It made my mind turn to what I had wanted to be when I grew up when I was a girl.<br />
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I had wanted to be a marine biologist at first. Until I realized I had no talent or love for math. Although when I was a sophomore, I'd taken a research class and had written about farming the ocean---aquaculture. The teacher had been angry that I was taking a Senior class. The final grade she'd given me was a B+....and the writing on the page said, "Good for a Sophomore!" It was the highest grade she would allow me to have due to my age.<br />
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Surprisingly, I gave up marine biology, not the dream of becoming a writer! I had just neatly tucked it away for later dreaming--or in this case action. Now as I lay there in my sick bed I prayed for inspiration to grab hold, and it did! As the prayer ended, more answers to my prayers flowed into my damaged brain. I couldn't believe it! I still wanted to write! I knew I'd find a way to work on becoming a writer or author or whatever they called it nowadays-- and do my utmost to make it happen.<br />
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I was filled with hope as I went on the internet and started searching. I found a website for Christians who wanted to learn to write in a good Christian environment. It spoke to me like nothing else on the web. I was a little fearful. I know that many people don't consider Latter-day Saints to be Christians. I'd felt the sting of persecution many many times in my life since joining our church. Still, if the site lived up to it's promise, I'd be welcomed. I was for about 2.5 years as it turns out. Even though in the end I was run out on a rail so to speak, being curse as a demon, those who knew and loved me knew I wasn't. I was a Christian a Latter-day Saint and I was an honest writer who's skills grew with each piece she wrote. So I had to leave. I'd overstayed my welcome.<br />
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I have so many people all over the world, to thank for blessing me with their friendship during that time in my life. They prayed for me and corrected my grammar. I was given hope and friendship and felt so loved by my Savior Jesus Christ. Even though I left the site heartbroken and bruised, it was worth it. Every minute I learned and grew and stretched myself helped me in both mind, body and spirit to heal. In the end I was walking, thinking, moving, keyboarding, feeling and setting goals in my life and for publication.<br />
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The best part of all, I was walking again.<br />
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This week my old blue scooter went to a new home. I hope they feel the freedom I felt the first time I was helped into it. We went for a walk as a family. I passed them all up and let out a squeal as I felt the freedom of speed and the wind in my hair once again!<br />
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It is always about the Silver Lining for this Latter-day Saint woman, even in that moment so long ago...<br />
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</div>Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-9572363106606707242011-10-13T07:42:00.004-05:002011-11-27T12:00:02.522-06:00The Most Amazing Trip and a Sweet Grandson's Birth! Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We just returned from Utah. It was the most amazing trip!<br />
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My husband and I have now officially become grandparents. We are absolutely thrilled! Logan Edward Otis was born over a week ago on a Monday at about 4:30 PM. His mom Julie did great! She is a wonderful Mommy and our son Jason is the most amazing dad! He takes such good care of Julie and Logan. We have been so pleased to see his kindness, compassion and generosity shine. It makes being a parent of sons such a blessing to witness. <br />
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I was captivated by the miracle that Logan truly is only minutes after his birth. His eyes were open wide and I'll never forget the love I felt for him so immediately. This is our first grandchild and I was pleased as the memory of his own fathers birth and subsequent childhood swept me away and rushed in to fill my heart once again. Such sweet memories of the baby lotion, baby chortles the nursing noises and the warmth of our grandson in my arms that felt so comforting and oh so familiar. How I had missed these sensations as a mother! What a joy it was to finally feel it all once again.<br />
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The most amazing part is that I was alive to enjoy it all. How many times I had wept in the past praying I'd be here for this moment in time. Now I can look beyond this birth to the next birth expected in February when our son Matthew's sweet wife gives birth to our second grandson! I can hardly wait! By then I hope to have the final pounds off once and for all. I'll be able to do so much more to help our girls while I'm out there when I do. Staying healthy is my goal with this weight loss. I can't wait to start lifting weights this month. Living a long life is the byproduct of my HCG protocol. I know my clients understand this concept as do many of you out there who are trying to get strong and healthy. My gratitude knows no bounds when I consider where I was a year ago and where I am now...</div>
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Our trip was about Logan, but we were also excited to do quite a few more things while we were there due to the perfect timing of his birth. </div>
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We stopped in a town down below Vernal before getting to BYU-- to see some missionary mom friends. We missed them by an hour! How sad I was! But Patty found us in town and took us out to lunch. I was so glad to see this dear sister! She is so sweet! We enjoyed her and her girlfriend's company and a lovely lunch. When we parted ways I knew I'd see her again in the future. Plus we do have our MM group. It's wonderful to hug a friend who's shared so much of herself with me online. What a blessing to see her.</div>
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When we got into town, we went straight to the BYU campus and onto our son Matthew's mission reunion. We were able to meet his mission president and his wife and many of the Elders and sisters our son served with in Yekaterinburg Russia. It was a blessing to be able to participate in. The food was wonderful and meeting these great men and women was very refreshing. I had actually never considered that I would be able to attend one of these events. This was yet, another miracle.</div>
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After we left the reunion, our son took us to the lab where he works on campus. I was like going back to the 1940's or 50's. He seems right at home there. He informed us that he works in the only building on campus that isn't earthquake proof as well....He works in the basement. I try not to think about it. I placed him firmly in the Lords hands when he served in Russia. I think I can handle an old building now. ha ha!</div>
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Matt works for an Entomologist. His major is in conservation biology with an emfasis on entomology--I think I got that right. He has changed his major a few times as do most young people. He will be finishing up there at BYU in a couple of years and I think wants to get his PHD eventually. His wife Jelly is graduating in April with a degree in psychology. Then they will be coming home to the University of MN for graduate school. At least that's the plan for now. Things always seem to change though, so we are just waiting to see what the Lord provides. </div>
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When we finished up at the lab, they took us to their new little home in Mapleton. They live in a basement apartment of a family home. I was able to meet the sweet family they rent from. I'm so grateful our kids live with such a kind hearted family. With the worsening economy and the ushering in of the last days, it is truly a comfort to have our kids living with such good families. It makes it all the more bearable to picture this in my minds eye. It makes the ache a little better while they are away simply knowing they are safe. I'm sure some of my readers understand.</div>
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We said our goodbye's with the promise that they'd spend the weekend with us and go to conference with is the following weekend, and headed from Mapleton to South Jordan. Our son Jason and his his very pregnant wife Julie, were living in a basement apartment of her parents family home. It was so wonderful to be able to stay in her families home. Julie was absolutely radiant and beautiful!<br />
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end of part 1</div>
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</div>Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-33754262958499522792011-06-21T11:43:00.004-05:002011-06-21T12:04:08.644-05:00"You're Skinny Mama!"The day I finally weighed less than my husband was such a huge relief! I didn't realize how much it had bugged me to outweigh him. Now, he can even pick me up off my feet! Yikes! Not sure I like that much, but it was fun when he did! I think he enjoyed hearing me squeal! lol!<div><br /></div><div>Some of the things that are easier to do these days are very simple. I can kneel and pray by my bed each morning and night without hurting. I can bend over to weed my garden. I can stand long enough to cook a meal--or two or three! I can tie my own shoes and give myself a pedicure. Yes, all those things used to be difficult. Now that I've lost over 100 lbs, life is fun again! </div><div><br /></div><div>When you're obese (hate that word) your life slows down. You don't have the energy to keep up with the world that seems to be passing you by. If you do manage to keep up, it's exhausting. I don't know how many time I made excuses, sometimes very legitimate excuses not to go to social functions. I was easily tired, sore, short of breathe and self conscience about my weight. It was hard. I was lonesome and sad a lot. I felt like a bad mom and a bad wife for letting everyone down. Thank goodness I was a nice person or they may have just given up on me altogether. But they stuck by me and loved me despite my medical issues that brought me to this point.</div><div><br /></div><div>Why am I sharing this? Because I understand this kind of pain. My calling in life now, is to alleviate this particular type of suffering. Through the HCG drops that I sell and the updated protocol Doctor Stockwell has developed, I can help. It's amazing! First I helped myself though. My own weight loss is ongoing. I have 40 or so lbs to go! </div><div><br /></div><div>My son, the missionary, was shocked to see my most recent photo's. His comment was, "You're Skinny Mama!" Well, I don't know about skinny, but I am healthy now. I feel great, I am happier than I have been in 20 years. My dad says I look like I did in High School. Not sure about that either, but it sure was a boost for me to hear his opinion.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can walk for miles without being tired. I can wear pretty clothes---real sizes off the rack! Wow! I actually enjoy shopping now. I dig in my garden-- relishing each moment I can work the soil and soak up the sunshine! </div><div><br /></div><div>In September I get to welcome our first grandson into our family! I'll get to watch him grow and learn and play now. It is such a blessing!</div><div><br /></div><div>Blessings come in all shapes and forms during a lifetime. Right now my blessing is in helping others do the same thing I've done since October. Life is amazing! Do like I did and start living it again! You will be amazed at what you've been missing!</div>Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-65595522835052855232011-04-05T09:24:00.007-05:002011-04-05T16:31:27.769-05:00Ain't Life Grand?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZa8KsdNoVLNU8f0Yj4Ris4acSCoYK3-sl3MXOHd16gDipWAa5OyjP5Exa0zqnTgFl_MetfL_EgMMLzHhLAuhhb2_Dz4lkfMYVw8i3zJjg4dg832E5A7ni_WUWUEfkfeIOZXkb8FTBNAc/s1600/005.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZa8KsdNoVLNU8f0Yj4Ris4acSCoYK3-sl3MXOHd16gDipWAa5OyjP5Exa0zqnTgFl_MetfL_EgMMLzHhLAuhhb2_Dz4lkfMYVw8i3zJjg4dg832E5A7ni_WUWUEfkfeIOZXkb8FTBNAc/s320/005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592215261625641282" /></a><br />I've been so busy! New clients, a new calling as the Relief Society Secretary and it's spring! What can I say, I love it when the deep snow gives way to green grass and freshly mowed lawns. I can hardly wait for the flowers to bud out and release their amazing fragrance! Then I 'll know it truly has arrived!<div><br /></div><div>I often feel like a butterfly emerging from it's chrysalis . I'm shedding the weight that has weighed me down in body and in spirit. This new me takes some getting used to. I'm glad to be doing this with my sweet husband Terry. He has shed quite a few pounds too. Glad I'm secure in my relationship and in his love for me. He's been getting some double takes lately. If I were a jealous woman, this might be an issue. ha! But no, I'm not and I'm just so happy for him and for myself.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is something wonderful about being able to hug your husband closer without the fat between you. It's not just a physical thing, which is nice by the way. It's more of a spiritual thing. As human beings, we need that closeness.</div><div><br /></div><div> As we dance around the kitchen to the song my husband loves to sing to me--it takes me back to the first years of our marriage. Gone are the years of pain and suffering, they've melted away into the past where they belong. </div><div><br /></div><div> I'm loving this return to the real me! I'm 95 lbs lighter and loving my life again because of HCG Docs Stimulus drops! I am also glad I'm a practitioner for this wonderful product. Helping others reach their weight loss goals is a blessing. I'm able to speak to women all over the world, just like myself, who have struggled with obesity and are now triumphing over their own personal adversity. It's amazing to be able to make a difference!</div><div><br /></div><div>As you can imagine, my heart is healing on so many levels. Emotionally, I don't feel anxious about my weight or looking good, as I enter a crowded room. Instead I feel like myself again. I'm confident, freed from a bondage only someone who is overweight can understand. Gone is the fatigue, the restless nights of insomnia and the food cravings that used to control me with the ensuing depression left in it's wake. My spirit feels free again and it's the most amazing time of my life.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm learning to play again. I wonder what new adventures lay in store for us in the future....Oh yeah! A wedding in June and a Grandbaby in September! Ain't life grand? I'll be around for years to come. I'll be holding those sweet babes and chasing toddlers and watch my family grow. I'll travel and garden and do whatever else I wish to do in life. Perhaps I'll even get to go back to school and continue with my writing career.....Time will tell what Valora will do. I'm excited to know the future is now possible for living my life to it's fullest potential. What an amazing blessing!</div><div><br /></div><div>If you want to try our wonderful HCG product that has an UPDATED diet plan with more balance and more calories and more protein than traditional HCG diets. Docs Stimulus Drops and our plan is for you. Write to me at valora.otis@gmail.com and I'll give you a call and explain our program in detail. </div>Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-71207703191266845392011-02-23T13:44:00.006-06:002011-02-23T15:04:55.665-06:00I feel like running! Running?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImnR9yEESjXlCv69G_DnTn2mPupB-DjLp8kCGs9ZPAsZ_yT7_OmT3-DNBOqz_W6KC6Bq4skmGzfJqBJ7pj8B7d3Ce1YZInz4y1bG-3Xh_-4e11Ko19DYpF39gBeh_1tR8Sx-oo0Hqgvpa/s1600/025.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImnR9yEESjXlCv69G_DnTn2mPupB-DjLp8kCGs9ZPAsZ_yT7_OmT3-DNBOqz_W6KC6Bq4skmGzfJqBJ7pj8B7d3Ce1YZInz4y1bG-3Xh_-4e11Ko19DYpF39gBeh_1tR8Sx-oo0Hqgvpa/s320/025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576986801483562258" border="0" /></a><br />Here I am again! Those pants I had to lie down and zip up are now falling off of me! Yes, I'm heading into a size 14 now. That may not seem like a huge deal to a lot of you, but hey, I haven't seen the other side of a 14 since I was 30! ha ha! So, it's time to celebrate! I'm doing the happy dance for sure!<br /><br />I've been combing thrift shops for good name brand clothing that I can shrink down into. I've found amazing things! I think I have jeans in every size I need to get down into a size 9 again. I figure I can take in a lot of my tops and skirts until then. I just don't want to pay good money for something I'll shrink out of so quickly. Yeah, I tend to be a frugal one:)<br /><br />I'm so proud of all my clients! They are doing so great! I have one amazing lady who runs half marathons and has lost so much and is sticking to her protocol. Her husband is not going to recognize her when he gets of the ship! Can you even imagine how much easier it will be for her to run a marathon without the extra pounds? She is my hero for having done it at all before her HCG weight loss. Perhaps she'll find herself in the winners circle or what ever they call the top runners group these days....I'll be cheering her on for sure!<br /><br />For those ladies who want to lose the weight so they can conceive. This is possible now with HCG. I know so many women who are told to lose a few pounds and perhaps it will help them. Then only to be disappointed when they can't lose the weight due to thyroid issues. I'm here to tell you that I am seeing that success now in two of my clients. They are winning this battle with their thyroid. Despite thyroidism, they are losing weight successfully! You are amazing women and I'm so proud of you! I pray a baby will bless your lives soon!<br /><br />For the people out there who were like myself. There is always hope. Never give up! I'm living proof that you can regain your health through weight loss. Gone are the excuses for my ill health as I've shed the pounds. It was truly all about what I put in my mouth over the years. I admit it. Now that's a milestone eh? As a religious woman, I accept my part in my own illness. Circumstances caused injury, but in the end it was about food and not fully understanding about nutrition.<br /><br />I am stronger and healthier and happier than I have been in years. I had no idea how good this would feel! To be able to sing, to walk...fast, to sleep 8 hours without hurting and to have the energy to walk the dog is wonderful. The list goes on including dancing with my sweetheart. I dearly love to dance.<br /><br />I'm thankful for simple things, but oh, so important things in my life. For instance, the seat belt in the car doesn't hurt me anymore. My husband can wrap his arms around me fully and with room to spare! ha! The energy I feel bubbles over sometimes and I actually feel like running! Running? Did I actually say that? Perhaps I should try that soon? Just one second, I wonder if I can? What a concept? Wow! Take note of that one for the future, readers!Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-28960009536394640472011-02-08T09:27:00.005-06:002011-02-08T09:40:58.551-06:00I DID IT!Hi Everyone! I'm here to tell you today how much I love my job and how filled with gratitude I am that my health has returned!<br /><br />Yesterday I decided to try my oldest Goodwill find on....When I purchased these jeans, I'd noticed they had no give, no stretch fabric in them. Just good old fashioned denim. I remember thinking, "when you get into these pants, it will be the real size, it will take a while to get there Val."<br /><br />Well, yesterday I got them over my hips! I thought, "NO WAY!" When I was a size 24+ I never thought I could lose this much weight. Now at nearly 70 lbs lost, I lay on my bed, buttoned those jeans and swiftly zipped them up! WOW! I did it! In about a week they will fit just perfect! Holy Cow! Is this even possible?<br /><br />The best part of losing the weight is that I'm not in pain anymore. My joints aren't screaming for relief! I can take stairs two at a time. The most significant thing is, my <span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297178485_2">edema</span> is all but gone and my liver doesn't pain me in the middle of the night when I roll over any more. Just the memory of that pain keeps me moving forward. I pray each time I eat that I can continue to lose and get to my goal and be healthy. I ask for Fathers help in this, because I know I can't do this without his help.<br /><br />I also pray that I can continue to help others do the same thing I"m doing. I'm sincere in my efforts to help them and I can't tell you what a blessing it is to be there for them.<br /><br />Life is such a blessing these days. I used to do my best to help others. Now, I can physically help myself and my family. No more being an invalid. I've gotten a second chance at life and I"m embracing it with all my heart and spirit.<br /><br />How am I doing this? Well, I'm a practitioner for Doc Stimulus Drops--homeopathic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">HCG</span> drops! I help others do what I am doing. I help men and women lose weight every day with the aid of the drops and a low calorie diet. I know how it's done first hand. I feel what you're feeling each day. I love cheering others onto their personal goals. Send me a note if this is something you're ready for and I'll help you too! Invest in your health and in your future. The main thing is to be kind to yourself and continue to have hope and belief in that silver lining! I'll be there every stop of the way helping whenever I"m needed.<br /><br />Look for my new website. It's being built and I'll post here when the grand unveiling will be. I'm so excited! Have a fantastic day everyone!<br /><br />PS....Earn a free bottle of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">HCG</span> by coming up with a new website name for me! here are some insight: It will be a place of healing, natural medicine and supplements, recipe's , inspirational creative writing , nutrition information, tips for staying on and being successful on a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">HCG</span> diet, Tools for success and wellness, organic gardening and more.<br /><br />Hope you all have a wonderful day. Never give up on your dreams and your goals--there is always a way. You can do hard things too. We all can!Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-17887074143589183822011-01-09T14:22:00.003-06:002011-01-09T14:36:07.096-06:00BlissI was just asked to accept a new calling. Oh boy! I've been the cannery manager for our Ward for a couple of years. I guess it's time to learn new things. I'll let you know after next Sunday what it is. It's something I've never done before. It's always a big adventure for sure!<br /><br />Our son Elder J. Hunter Otis is in the mission field in Lone Pine California. He is doing wonderful things there and we are so pleased with his individual progress as well. Missions are a wonderful thing for a young person. You learn to help others instead of serving yourself. The Lord is put first in their lives and it is wonderful to see the growth they experience!<br /><br />Today Terry and I got to hold our favorite little guy in church. His name is Noah and he's 16 months old. How I love that sweet little boy. Fills up my arms and makes me miss my boys less than usual. In two weeks though, he goes home with his mommy and two brothers to Hawaii. I'll miss them all so much.<br /><br />My weight loss is going well. I lost 8.5 lbs last week. I stopped losing a couple of days ago because the sugar free drink I purchased at Arby's must have had sugar in it. Blasted sugar! I just can't eat out for a while I think. I'd rather eat fresh organic anyway. Packing lunches while traveling is going to be important i think. So, tomorrow I'm having a fast and then eating an 8 oz steak for dinner. It's all good and I'll get back on track. It was a good week though. This week should prove to be even better.<br /><br />My HCG business is doing well. It's a joy to help others lose weight. Many of my old childhood friends have looked me up and we are doing this hard thing together. I so appreciate each of them more than they know. If I can keep just one of them from suffering what I have gone through, it makes me so happy. What an amazing job to have. I thank Father each and every day for His blessings.<br /><br />It sounds like our kids are happy after the wonderful wedding after Christmas. Jelly is so fun and sweet and adorable. I know our son is very happy. They are now in Utah in their little nest and going to college together. What wonderful memories they will have when their kids are all grown and gone like mine.<br /><br />Life seems so blissful for the moment and I'm savoring every second.Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-59242783267672893522011-01-06T08:33:00.003-06:002011-01-06T09:04:02.806-06:00The Lord Provides a WayIt has been a long time since I've visited my blog. So much has happened! I think that the wedding of our son Matthew to Christina "Jelly" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Roushar</span> is the biggest event to write about!<br /><br />They were married in the St. Paul MN Temple on December 30<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Th</span>. It was a beautiful wedding. The sealing room was full of family and dearly loved friends. We are so pleased that so many wished to attend. They had to bring in chairs because there were upwards to 60 people in attendance. The spirit filled the room as the priesthood holder spoke to Jelly and Matt. In that moment as I sat beside my son, my heart became so warm with love and of the spirit. It was the most amazing feeling.<br /><br />The week was full of festivities. I provided two meals for the families. One was the grooms dinner. I made Hawaiian Haystacks, a favorite of our family. I had two friends make authentic egg rolls and sushi to go with them. It was a hit! The next day I made soups and salads from the leftover veggies and meat. Many friends made bar cookies to go with the meal. All the extra bars we had went to the reception. It all worked out amazingly well.<br /><br />There was one hero amongst us that I must mention. Karissa <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Showalter</span>, the newly baptized girlfriend of our third son Ryan. She , being a new member could not attend the wedding. So she spearheaded our luncheon, helped prepare food right along side us for several days before both meals. She was amazing! We dearly love that sweet gal. I think we are all hearing wedding bells for her and Ryan in the future. Well, they talk about it all the time, but have not actually become engaged yet. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">lol</span>!<br /><br />Our son Jason and daughter in law Julie flew in the day of the grooms dinner. My parents <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">JoAnn</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">DeWayne</span> Hess flew in the day before that. Everyone was here except Hunter who is on a mission in Lone Pine CA! I missed my sisters, but totally understood the things that kept them away. Perhaps next wedding they can make it. I can only pray that it will be so.<br /><br />I did go off my diet for the two days leading up to the wedding and for a couple of days afterwards. It wasn't hard to get back on track. I was so sick of rich foods! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Bleck</span>! I have no desire to go back to that way of eating again. After I'm done with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">HCG</span> I will be going into the Zone Diet way of eating for the rest of my life. You balance protein with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Carbs</span>. It's a way of life for me. I never want to get sick because of what I put in my mouth again. I'm in control of my appetites now. I no longer have food cravings and they not longer rule my life! It's amazing! I am no longer in bondage to the natural man. I'm prayerful every day that I can stay the course and do this hard thing. I am winning! To date I have lost over 50 lbs! I'm measuring myself this Saturday and I'll be able to tell you how many inches I've lost. I know it will boggle your mind. It sure has boggled mine!<br /><br />Life has taken on a different luster for me. I have some pain in my back due to the accident a year ago. But, I don't have all over body aches any more.<br /><br />My mind is clear of the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">fibrofog</span>" that I used to experience with my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">fibromyalgia</span>. I sleep deeper. I can do so much more since I lost 50 lbs. My joints don't hurt when I walk. My hips stopped popping out the joint.<br /><br />My chiropractor is amazing and keeps me going as my body changes. I need adjustments every other week to keep up with the changes because I'm losing so much weight. I welcome this. It's a great tool to keep moving due to my medical history. My blood pressure is perfect! My liver continues to heal and I have not had pain in my right side for weeks now! YES! That is such a relief!<br /><br />My kids noticed right away how much more energy I have. We used to have to park near the stores so I could go in. I was weak and in pain and they were so considerate. When we shopped, not only could I go all day, I could park way away from the doors and walk quickly and keep up with them and was not winded in the least! It was truly a milestone.<br /><br />This has been a wonderful, happy, busy, spiritual, uplifting revelatory Christmas season. I am so filled with gratitude for all I have learned about my spirit, my body and my own inner strength. I can do hard things with the Lords help. I can call down angels to protect me from the adversary as I go through this process and I have on the tough days. No longer are the voices whispering in my ear that I can't accomplish this program. I pray each time I bless my food that I can keep going until I reach my weight loss goals and beyond. I know that angels attend me and attend you when we have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">righteous</span> goals. Make sure you ask for their help. The Lord provides a way for us to do what is right. This is one of those things.Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-49856861561170361922010-12-10T08:14:00.005-06:002010-12-10T08:26:53.922-06:00Jump Started!Since I'm having such success losing weight with the HCG diet I decided to approach Doctor Stockwells office and see if I might sell their product. They said yes! So now I have another important milestone! I now have a job helping other people to lose weight and be successful at keeping it off! I love it!<br /><br />I now have several clients I counsel and they too are having great success! It is the most amazing feeling to help so many people, just like myself to regain their health. I feel truly blessed to be part of such a wonderful program.<br /><br />My first client has lost an amazing amount of weight and it's so exciting to hear about it.<br /><br />I think back at all the years that I was at such a loss as to how to get my metabolism jump started. Now that I know how the pounds are just melting away. Taking Krill oil supplements is a must when you are losing so quickly. Let me know if you need your Krill oil and I'll ship them to you right away!<br /><br />This Christmas I'll post pictures of the healthier me. Last Christmas I was so sick and had edema so bad. It was an effort to smile through all the pounds. I did despite feeling so unwell. The pictures don't lie. It was bad....This year is a new year for me! I'm on my way and I"m so excited!<br /><br />Life is good and getting better the closer I get to my weight loss goal. If I feel this good now, how will I feel when I get to where I'm going? I simply can't imagine that yet! I Thank God daily for His blessings. I only pray that I can help as many people as possible to feel this way too.<br /><br />Have a wonderful day everyone! Make it a good one!Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-27795593128686598502010-11-18T11:58:00.004-06:002010-11-18T12:19:53.871-06:00WE CAn Do Hard Things!This is a big day! It's another milestone in my weight loss journey. I've lost 31 lbs total so far. I can now walk 45 minutes on my treadmill. I sleep more than in the past because I don't hurt as bad. I am in control of my eating and my blood pressure has returned to NORMAL!<div><br /></div><div> Yes! I made a big dinner the other day and had enough self control to eat my chicken, salad and cup of veggies! I did it! I feel like I passed some unseen test of will with the universe! I have super powers now! Ha! Ha!</div><div><br /></div><div>Seriously, if I had made a chocolate cake a month ago I would have dove in with two spoons and not stopped until I licked the pan clean! Just kidding, but you know the emotion. I didn't lick the sweet chocolate goodness from a single finger tip! I sang out loud as I doused that bowl in soapy water! It was a moment.</div><div><br /></div><div>How grateful I am for my Savior that hears my prayers for strength! The desire to live a long life, to see my sons as fathers and grow old with the sweetest man on earth--<i>drives me forward</i>!</div><div><br /></div><div> I can indeed do hard things! I'm keeping my eye on my goal of allowing that little person inside of me emerge. She has been locked away for far too long. </div><div><br /></div><div>I pray every day <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">that</span> I can be equal to the task at hand. I pray as I ask a blessing on the food I do eat that I will be strong and not be temped by the adversary to fall. There is no choice! My liver was failing before I started this journey. Now, how quickly it has been healing! It was unimaginable to me back when I was so sick. How it pained me while I tried to sleep.....The pain I suffered from for years, is all but gone. A miracle? I know it is!</div><div><br /></div><div>Since I first posted about my weight loss, I haven't been sharing as much as I should have. I've finally been busy doing things healthy people do. What a concept! </div><div><br /></div><div>I view the world with new eyes looking toward the future, and it is such a happy time for me and my husband. I can see the relief daily in his eyes. We are both recovering from my long illness. He was and is my dearest friend. He took such good care of me for so many long years. Now, he has a wife who is more like her old self with each passing day.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm now selling the product I'm taking. It felt like the right thing to do. It's a homeopathic form of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">HCG</span>. It's safe, not injected and has literally saved my life. Now, I'll be trained to help counsel others and they too can see for themselves what <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">permanent</span> weight loss can do for their lives and those who love them.</div><div><br /></div><div>I plan on walking each and every person I sell this product to, through the entire process. I'll cheer you on and give you suggestions that will keep you on the right path. I'll also be praying for you to hang in there like I have when you have tough days. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is a wonderful time in my life. I have so much to look forward to today. Do you? Let me know if I can help you out. Our plan allows you more calories than most. After you have lost the weight, you'll step down with the help of the Zone. I'll help you as long as it takes. </div><div><br /></div><div>((((HUGS)))) from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Valora</span></div>Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-84768666091937856882010-11-17T12:25:00.007-06:002010-11-18T11:57:22.040-06:00Like the Children of God We Are!"Those that learn best, have the capacity to learn from others." Yes! Every person you meet , whatever their condition in this life-- is someone we can learn from. <div><br /></div><div>They are all my brothers and sisters and I love them. If the Lord sees the most humble persons divine potential, so must I. I'm so glad He has seen my potential, even when I didn't see it myself. He sees more clearly my divine heritage and I'm so grateful!<div><br /></div><div>"The greatest learners expect resistance and learn to overcome it"--says President <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Eyring</span>. So many famous people have lived through one discouragement after another, only to step right up and be determined to work through it and get it right the next time! </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, we complain sometimes. Life is a test, isn't it? I've learned not to complain so much these days. To look for hope instead of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">discouragement is my goal</span>. The greater the test, the greater the compliment from Heavenly Father. Heck, we should all be so grateful he thinks so highly of us all! He knows we can overcome so much more than we realize.</div><div><br /></div><div>What trials lay ahead for me? I'll never know. I've learned to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">see that we</span> will all face difficulty in the days and years ahead. But we know that Heavenly Father will give us no test without a way to overcome it!</div><div><br /></div><div>We need to stay determined in our righteous desires of our hearts. We need to expect the place of those things that bring humility and the power to learn. It transforms our lives. We need to act like the Children of God that we are! What would He do in our circumstance. Do what you have been prompted to do and do it today! Don't doubt the Holy Ghost after you have asked for help from Him above. He loves you! You are not forgotten!</div><div><br /></div><div>"Seek correction, work hard, get through the daily adversity life throws in your path." You can do hard things. We all can!</div><div><br /></div><div> I testify that you are a child of God. Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Redeemer. I know that we have a Prophet of God on the earth today. We have the power to rise up to the privileges that God wants to grant each and every one of us. Of this I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>* Thoughts based on a talk I listened to by President Eyring today. Amazing and inspiring!</div>Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-18687973619295629722010-11-07T08:43:00.005-06:002010-11-11T14:07:47.207-06:00"That's Enough Happiness With the Dog!"Today is an interesting one for me. My husband has gone hunting for the week. My kids are all grown up and gone... It's an odd state to be in after all the years of happy hub-bub of our home. <div><br /></div><div>I remember times that I actually wished for days like these. Oh, you know what I mean. Those days when all the kids are up all night with high fevers. or in the hospital with things you can't fix or take away...</div><div><br /></div><div>There was one moment I wish I could take back.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our kids had two of their best friends over for lunch. I was exhausted and sleep deprived. One of our sons decided to be extra sassy that day. </div><div><br /></div><div>I remember grabbing the family size bottle of ranch dressing at one point and fighting the impulse to hose him down with the dressing! </div><div><br /></div><div>I placed the bottle firmly on the table, in order to resist the temptation. Some of the kids went silent. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then, Ryan said yet another sassy remark to me... Before I knew what I was doing, I had that plump bottle back in my hands and growled while a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">guizer</span> of white dressing shot across the table. I hosed him from head to toe with the white, sticky mess!</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, the nasty look was off his face replaced with horror. I too was horrified at what I had done. As the empty bottle fell limply from my hands to the table top, I wished I could go back in time. </div><div><br /></div><div>All was silent for a moment. I heard a snort and then giggles from the other boys and then outright laughter. Ryan, ran from the room in mortification. </div><div><br /></div><div>I sat heavily in a chair. I realized I'd never done such an awful thing to my kid. I felt crushed with guilt.</div><div><br /></div><div>A few minutes later he came out and ate his lunch with more respect that I had ever witnessed. An unusual calmness washed over me as I apologized to him in front of the others. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, moms do make mistakes. Our son often brings up the story and hugs me and tells me how much he loves me. All is well thank goodness! My son realized he was a handful back then. There are days that try our very last nerve as parents. There are times we feel repentant as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do you have moments when your heart feels like it will expire, because it's filled with happy moments it might pop? I sure have. </div><div><br /></div><div>One of those such happy moments could be when I happened upon our youngest, now serving a mission. Hunter was playing with our golden retriever in the living room. The young dog was bounding from the couch to the floor and back again. Hunter was giggling, silky blond hair shining in the lamplight as he twirled to keep up with where the dog landed. He was tossing a ball on the couch as the dog followed. They both looked so happy I couldn't bring myself to scold them for throwing a ball in the room and jumping on my best couches! So I watched quietly and felt their joy, if only for a moment.</div><div><br /></div><div>Suddenly Hunter reached out to the dogs collar, knelt down on one knee, then placed both his chubby hands on either side of the dog's face and said these memorable words... </div><div><br /></div><div>"That's enough happiness with the dog now." Then he walked away.</div><div><br /></div><div>Such a simple way of telling the dog and himself it was time to settle down. Happiness was the feeling I'd gotten from the childlike scene I'd witnessed. It's a moment I draw from when I miss my boys. </div><div><br /></div><div>After 25 years of being a stay at home mom and wife, I revel in the joys that are mine to keep in my heart during these times I'm enjoying now. </div><div><br /></div><div>This season in my life is a time for reflection until things pick up again. I'm sure they will when all our kids are done with college and return home once again. I'm looking forward to those years with anticipation.</div><div><br /></div><div>Copyright 2010 by Valora A. Otis</div><div><div><br /></div></div>Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-2532453975600120932010-11-05T09:54:00.004-05:002010-11-05T10:11:02.103-05:00Happy "Fat Loss" Dance!I just have a minute to write something real quick! I am doing the happy "fat loss" dance this morning! I stepped on the scale and realized that I'd lost 10 lbs since starting the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">HCG</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">protocol</span>! How in the world is this working? It's amazing! It hasn't been easy by any stretch of the imagination, but it has certainly been worth it!<div><br /></div><div>I have so much more to go. At some point I'll have to come clean about how much I weighed before I started. It's hard to even imagine it myself. I have always had such a good self image despite the weight, so I don't think of myself as weighing that much. When I see photo's of myself, I'm shocked--because I don't think of myself that way. Does that make sense? Oh boy! I'm sharing a lot today. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think that by being grateful to be alive and living life the best I could when I was so ill, made me focus on my spirit more. I know that our Savior loves me and is mindful of my struggles. How I love Him!</div><div><br /></div><div> I've had to reach outside this big shell and find joy in my life despite my pain and suffering. It has been something I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">strive</span> for daily. I've tried to learn from these experiences so I can help others. It's hard and sometimes lonely. But, every season in life brings such blessings. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm looking forward to spreading my wings and soaring! After just 10 lbs lost, I feel so much better! So much healthier! I am ready to keep going now! I won't give up! </div><div><br /></div><div>Pardon me while I go and eat my half a cup of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Cheerios</span> and half a cup of milk for breakfast! YUM! </div><div><br /></div><div>For all of you on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">HCG</span> diet, keep going! You can do it if I can do it too! </div><div><br /></div><div>I start walking today! Yeah, if you live in my neck of the woods and you see a fluffy red faced red headed woman struggling to get up that hill, please cheer her on!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-45988832409613975662010-11-03T10:49:00.004-05:002010-11-03T11:05:34.309-05:00Burning and Churning Calories Baby!Today, I've been doing really well on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">HCG</span> diet again. Yep! I'm doing it! Now, waiting for the weight to melt off of me. I can hardly wait. I'm ready for this!<div><br /></div><div>I'm waiting for our Elder J. Hunter Otis to call home from the airport on his way to California. I hope he has time to call. Otherwise we'll wait until Christmas to hear from him. Either way it's all good. Just the life of a missionary mom I guess. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday I took advantage of the sunshine and worked in the yard. I pulled all the weeds and cleaned out all my petunias. I love those purple beauties! I'll miss them as winter gets closer. It's been a lovely autumn though. I can't complain.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last night I had <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">talapia</span> for the first time. It's a white fish. We made a foil dinner out of it. I rolled out a big piece of heavy foil first. Then I placed the pieces of fish in the bottom. I sprinkled it with a pinch of salt and ground some fresh pepper over all. Then I grabbed some of my home dried oregano and basil and sprinkled the fish with that. I also added some garlic powder. </div><div><br /></div><div>Next I placed freshly rinsed and trimmed asparagus on top of the fish. On top of that I added <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">caramelized</span> onions and mushrooms. I added another pinch of salt and pepper. Then I added a splash of lemon juice and sealed up the whole thing and put it on the grill.</div><div><br /></div><div>25 minutes later we opened up the foil to the most amazing foil dinner! YUM! How I love fish!</div><div><br /></div><div>Along with my 5 oz of fish and half a cup of veggies I ate a handful of yummy salad! I sprinkled it with the most amazing balsamic vinegar! As I hummed through my dinner like a happy lunatic, my husband grinned! So not only was I the cook, I was the entertainment at dinner last night! Ha! I don't think I've ever enjoyed a meal so much. </div><div><br /></div><div>I stuck with the plan though. But, I forgot to eat my fruit! Yikes! Duh! How could I have missed my between meals med. apple? Oh yeah, I was outside pulling weeds! Goodness!</div><div><br /></div><div>Now I can say that I've survived 5 days on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">HCG</span> diet. I know what it's like to have a fire in my belly now. It's burning and churning the calories baby! Finally, my body is working how it was meant to work--and doing it right now!</div>Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-61837921059545094452010-11-02T07:24:00.007-05:002010-11-02T08:15:39.868-05:00I'm Five Days In--and I'm going to WIN!Well, I've joined the ranks of the starving dieters....yep, I'm trying to lose weight! I had no idea how tough the first few days would be. So from here on out you are going to need to cheer me on. I'm five days in and I'm going to win!<br /><br />A few months ago I was told that if I didn't lose the weight and cut back my fat intake drastically, I would end up with cirrhosis of the liver! I had been ill for over a year and had finally gone to a kidney specialist to rule out kidney disease. He was the one that finally diagnosed the problem. He was horrified to find in my chart that my family practitioner had known about this condition six month previous and had not given me any instruction. Insert more horror here!<br /><br />I quickly changed family docs and found an internal medicine doctor/sleep doc. She had a long waiting list in years past, and I had not been able to get in with her. Now she had openings! She was amazing! We got started on a low fat diet right away. I found out that I had been striving for this for quite some time, but had kept going back to the cream soups and hot dishes I loved. Bad girl!<br /><br />I had done one thing very right, I'd been organic gardening for years. Probably saved my life too! I had to eliminate all chemicals and additives and preservatives from my daily diet.<br /><br />I got rid of the nasty habit of drinking diet mountain dew! Yes, my name is Valora and I'm a Dew Head! Ha! Years ago a doctor had told me to drink something with caffeine in it to combat migraine headaches. Great doc eh? That had to be the hardest hurdle for me to get past. I did it! Check that off my list!<br /><br />In the midst of all of this enlightening news and information, I thought I was having a heart attack...well the doctor did. She had talked me into taking blood pressure medicine. An Ace inhibitor and chased that with a flu shot! I reacted badly to both! I was hospitalized and stuck and probed for the next 24 hours! All because I was scared and went against all the spirit told me to do and took that shot and med! Never again! Now 500 dollars poorer from co-pays, I was back on track!<br /><br />A few days later my new doc told me that I'd be a good candidate for natural medicine. Oh really? They won't be giving me either meds ever again. Whew!<br /><br />On the advice of a herbal medicine doctor, that I now admire greatly, he suggested I move from Dew to Sobe energy drinks and then off of them all completely. It worked! The ingredients in Sobe are less harsh and more natural. No one with a heart condition or other health conditions should go off of caffeine cold turkey. Or off of artificial sweeteners either. Wean yourself off slowly--but do it asap! If you are healthy, go for it and take Tylenol for that awful headache you'll get. But do get off of the horrid stuff!<br /><br />The human body doesn't need caffeine. It's really bad for your health. Your liver can't take it over time! Boy did I find out the hard way. <div><br /></div><div>Hey! I don't drink alcohol and they said that If I didn't eliminate the trans fats from my diet and get rid of the caffeine, I was going to develop cirrhosis of the liver--like a bad alcoholic! Why don't nutritionists tell you these things? I'd seen a few over the years. Not one that I'd ever paid good money to see, had brought up the possibility!<br /><br />I realized quickly that weight was the main issue causing all my health problems. My sleep apnea had brought it on slowly over time. Now that I was sleeping, my mind was alerted to the fact that I was not going to live long with the fatty liver or enlarged heart and I felt like I was sinking into fat quicksand!<br /><br />"Oh help!" I cried out loud as I thought of all the things in life I would miss! I lost a lot of sleep over this whole thing and prayed day and night for answers. How was I going to do this?<br /><br />The answer was simple. Find a way to lose the weight quickly and safely. The faster I lost weight, the quicker I could regain my health and do all those things in life I was meant to do.</div><div><br /></div><div>After much prayer, I found Laurence, the master herbalist. He's a deeply spiritual man and a member of our church in Idaho. I found him through a missionary mom friend that I trusted and I wasn't disappointed. He told me like it is. Straight talk with a punch. He hit me up on the whole caffeine thing. Oh boy! Satan didn't want me to give it up. Satan kept telling me I couldn't live without it. Now, that made me hopping mad! I hadn't thought of it that way. Now that I did, I couldn't go back. </div><div><br />Moving forward and fighting this fight to lose weight and live became all consuming. I'm a believer in Jesus Christ after all. He is supposed to be the center of my life. The one thing I've never been in all my life is a hypocrite! So I had to re-evaluate where I was at in my life. I turned it around quickly!<br /><br />So, now I"m on this journey with the HCG diet and later the zone diet to maintain that which I've lost. I pray hourly sometimes. I am struggling, but writing all of this down has given me renewed strength. Today is a new day and I'm praying for strength. I have a healthy sense of humor as I try to enjoy my new found sense of self. I have a very strong testimony in the fact that God does know us and He wants me to live.<br /><br />Cheer me on as I get healthy and re-claim my life. I am filled with gratitude in the knowledge that it is not too late and that our beloved Heavenly Father will be here for me in my hour of need! How I love Him! I can win this battle.</div>Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-85241780318730923872010-10-17T10:21:00.006-05:002010-10-17T10:49:01.985-05:00Money Will Buy a Fine Dog....As I read the posts here I realize that my sense of humor is not coming through. My spiritual side however does. So, in the future I'm going to be showing both sides of myself. I hope you enjoy this quirky part of me. <br /><br />My kids are cringing from across the miles! I just know it! Ha!<br /><br /> I have found the humor in my own trials in life. I can laugh about nearly anything that comes my way. Having lived through so many health scares and seen the blessings of my healing on so many occasions--I know that our trials are often temporary. Those that aren't need to be triumphed over spiritually. I've been given the gift to see the lighter side of things. I think it helps get me through constant adversity. <br /><br />I love harder, laugh often, find joy in the little things and have a life filled with joy! It's the coolest thing ever!<br /><br />I wasn't always this way though. I went through my dark years. Many times I thought I was being punished. When I finally came to my senses it was when I nearly gave up the fight. One of my children saved me. While I was praying and pleading to be healed from beneath the comforter, a little face appeared over the end of my bed. I knew I was needed. I knew as I gazed into his green eyes, that I was so loved and worried over. I chose life in those moments. <br /><br />Being happy is a choice for some of us. It doesn't come easily until you have practiced it for so long that it becomes a way of life! Choose to smile in the face of adversity! Choose to love those around you no matter how awful they can be. Choose to find the humor in the ridiculous and devastating things that come your way. Don't wallow in your sorrow. Hey! Yes! I'm talking to you and to myself. I slipped into that dark place off and on the last six months! It happens. I forgot to find joy. It nearly overcame me as I struggled, until I remembered my blessings and began to, yes, count them one by one. It's important to re-evaluate your life sometimes and repent and move forward. <br /><br />When we give up the fight to find joy in our lives, and allow the darkness and worldly things overcome us--we lose so much more than we realize. "Man" was meant to have joy! <br /><br />A funny aphorism was sent to my gmail today. "Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail." This jumped out at me, big time! I strive to be kind to all I meet. Why? Well, it's what Jesus would do. It's how those who were cruel to my family were not. It's a way to move past that treatment and rise above it. It has been the biggest blessing in my life! I get a little lift with each smile that is returned, each simple kind act that is preformed. Those are blessing people. Try being kind today. Start with a smile, it's free and it's amazing!Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361074445602727049.post-23070311452025381902010-10-17T09:33:00.005-05:002011-11-27T11:27:24.396-06:00Always Be Yourself....It's a Good Thing!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I found this in my drafts folder and realized how far I've come over the past year. Life continues to amaze me! I hope you enjoy this and continue to read about my journey. Elder Otis has been out for over a year now. I can't wait to speak to him at Christmas!.......This was written a year ago.<br />
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Recently, our youngest son entered the Mission Training Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is now beginning a two year mission as a full time missionary. We are so happy for him.<br />
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I haven't been writing very much here or anywhere for that matter. I'm trying to correct that starting today. I've been caught up in a trial of my heart, and the healing of my body that has been all consuming--The past six months or so deflated my spirits and made me feel very sad. It has be alleviated by getting healthy again and our youngest son entering the MTC and serving a mission. All is well now. I feel like I can move forward at this time. It's wonderful!<br />
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I belong to a women's group for missionary moms. I love it! It makes me realize how loved we are by our beloved Heavenly Father. I see their struggles and their faith and my own spirit soars. I'm able to help where I'm needed and that service heals my own spiritual wounds. Service is so key in moving outside ourselves and our pain and suffering. I know it's true.<br />
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This week I've conversed with women all over the world whom I have come to love. They cheer me on and I am able to respond in kind. It's a blessing in my life to be able to help in some small way.<br />
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We are all so different and yet, so alike in our struggles as Latter-day Saint women! We are really not ever alone. Heavenly Father most often works through others who don't even know they are helping to have our prayers answered. <br />
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I've been so blessed with the sweetest daughter in law in the world! We all love her dearly and soon our second son will be marrying an equally amazing woman. Two daughters in one year! Wow! I'm overjoyed to be so blessed! This is a very happy time of my life indeed. Jason and Julie's wedding was last May and Matt and Jelly's wedding will be on December 30Th. I can't wait to see our kids! How I've missed them as they attend college!<br />
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A quote really struck me as true this week. "Always be yourself because the people that matter don't mind, and the ones who mind, don't matter!" So true! In my younger years I remember feeling stiff and even superior with excess pride.To my regret, I often judged others.<br />
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As my life progressed and I matured, I loosened up and had many life lessons that made me realize that pride was baggage. That is was painful. As I set it aside the blessings began to flow into my life. I learned to love myself and others more fully. How blessed my life became! Those blessings continue as I can see the love in the things others say and do and don't take offense so easily. It's a good thing too.</div>Valorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508180468575928229noreply@blogger.com0